There are 8 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2022 Kia Carnivalin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
While driving my 2022 Kia Carnival Prestige, the engine started knocking and the vehicle started sounding like it was going to turn off. There was no alert or light on until we got to the service center where the check engine light came on. I took to the nearest dealer with service center for Kia for inspection and repair which the dealer's service center indicated it was an engine failure at 62,203 miles. This failure was hundreds of miles away from my home. I had to return to my state on a rental vehicle. The vehicle remained at the service center for 2 months for engine replacement. Prior to this event, I had serviced the vehicle at my home dealer's service center since I bought it. I performed all maintenance and my home dealer never alerted to an engine trouble before this event. Once I retrieved my vehicle, the vehicle was fine for few weeks and at 66,427 miles the vehicle started having issues with a check engine light on again. I took to my home dealer's service center and after inspection they indicated it was a bad fuel injector. The vehicle became unreliable and unsafe for my regular commute. Once I received the vehicle with the new engine the performance and sound was very different than my old engine had been since I bought the car. I believe the original engine has been faulty since I bought the vehicle.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while her daughter was inside the vehicle, the door closed on her rib cage and arm, but medical attention was not provided. Additionally, the taillights were inoperable. While driving, the vehicle stalled. While accelerating and making a turn, the vehicle hesitated and stalled. The engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the weather stripping sensor needed to be replaced. The bulb was broken, and a wiring harness replacement was needed. The system was reset. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 1,187.
The engine has shut off while driving multiple times.
The contact owns a 2022 Kia Carnival. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the horn and the sliding sensor for the doors on the vehicle failed to work as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, it was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 13,125.
On three separate occasions when the temperature was below -20C, this brand-new vehicle stopped working due to ice in the throttle body. Vehicle had to be towed each time. The dealer service manager informed me that the new design no longer heats the throttle body, and condensation jams the mechanism. In my mind this is a safety risk because (1) the car stops working while driving in traffic and (2) it's a family vehicle, putting up to 8 passengers at severe risk of cold-related injuries when stranded. The dealer has confirmed that this has occurred for at least three other customers at this one dealership. Each time they have inspected and disassembled the assembly, cleared the ice buildup, and applied a silicone lubricant. On the first and third occasion only, the "Check Engine" light came on. On the second occasion, the car simply died while driving, and I had to roll to the highway shoulder. Note: On the "address" page, your form does not take a Canadian address, however this vehicle is also sold in America. My Correct postal code is J7V 8P4 and Province is Quebec.
This morning was the coldest morning this year (7F) and I could not accelerate the vehicle after turning it on. It won't go faster than 15mph or so and the engine warning sign popped up. The code said P211800. I have heard that there were many people complaining this issue and I had felt mine was safe from this issue, but the weather hasn't been that cold to cause the issue. I had to drive with the panic button on and all the other cars passed me and I felt I was in danger while driving back home.
Beginning of January, when I went to drive home from work my check engine light was on and my Kia Carnival wouldn't accelerate over 10 mph. I let it run longer and tried to drive again and it wouldn't go over 20 mph. Let it sit a while longer and it finally drove normally but the check engine light stayed on. I called and made an appt with Kia in Fort Wayne immediately after it happened but they couldn't get me in for almost 2 weeks. The day I took it in (Jan. 22) the vehicle/engine shook anytime I accelerated. It did this the entire drive from my home to the Kia dealership. They ran diagnostics and found there was a sensor error with the injectors. They test drove it and said everything was fine. I got it back on Jan. 25 or 26th and it was fine. Then on the 29th I went to drive my vehicle and it had the acceleration problem again. I immediately called Kia and they couldn't get my vehicle in until Feb. 7th. I didn't drive it that day after the acceleration problem, but the check engine light was on again. I've driven it all last week because I need a vehicle. The check engine light will come on sometimes and sometimes be off. On Friday Feb. 4th the shaking happened again. It would shake when I accelerate. The check engine light was on all weekend. They looked at my car on Feb. 7th and the check engine light isn't on and it's driving fine for them at Kia. They ran the diagnostic and said it was the sensor error again. They said it was fine to drive because it wasn't happening right at that moment. I drove it home and it started to have the same issues again multiple times. I called the first time it happened again after service and they couldn't get it in until March 7th. It won't do it everyday, usually just cold mornings on the first start. It wasn't having the issue when I took it in for service. They looked at it and said it was fine. I get it back and it's doing it again. After 4 service visits I'm still having problems and Kia refuses to help or do a buyback.
In December of 2021 my 6 month old Kia Carnival lost power while on the Ohio turnpike when the engine shut down. At that time the dealership was unable to identify the cause. Since then the vehicle has been into the shop multiple times, has an issue with Cylinder 6 and is burning coolant internally which is likely the original reason for the unexpected engine failure. Kia has been ordered through arbitration to repurchase the vehicle, however are unwilling to even offer enough to cover the loan and take back their defective vehicle. I have seen reports online of other Carnivals having similar issues. There are no recalls for this, and Kia seems to have no intention of making sure this is addressed.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026